The lead ship and class are named in honor of former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo R. “Bud” Zumwalt Jr., who served as chief of naval operations from 1970-1974.

April 2014, the US Navy launched the largest destroyer ship that has ever been built.Armed with the most advanced technology and future technology prospects, the 610 ft long x 80 ft wide USS Zumwalt is about 100 feet longer and 20 feet wider than current destroyer ships being used. The striking tumblehome hull is designed to pierce waves reducing navigation time. Strategic angle construction of the ship increases evasion of enemy radar by 50% than current destroyers.

The advanced technology incorporated into the USS Zumwalt ensures US Navy’s dominance far into the future.

Integrated Power SystemAn all-electric power plant that generates and distributes the ship’s total electric power while converting this power for all ship loads, including propulsion, combat systems and ship services. This advanced power plant provides up to 78 megawatts of power; enough electricity to power about 47,000 American homes. Top

Advanced Gun System
A unique weapon system that can fire a 155 millimeter rocket-powered, computer-guided Long Range Land Attack Projectile that can destroy targets in ranges up to 70 miles – 3 times further than replaced destroyer guns. This weapon will provide longer range, accurate fire support to the Marines, Army, and Special Ops Forces on land. Top

MK 57 Launcher An array of 80 cells of vertically launched missles: Standard Missle, ASROC, ESSM, and Tomahawk Land Attack Missles. This peripheral vertical launch system is installed on the outside of the ship. Encased in 4″ steel plate armor to contain the exhaust of hotter burning missiles. The open architecture provides ease of integration for new missile systems without modification of the launcher control software. Top

Ocean-Drawn Water Fuel System
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory has demonstrated proof-of-concept on the ability to draw carbon dioxide and hydrogen from seawater and turn it into a form of gasoline fuel. This “game changing” technology would provide a never ending fuel source to military ships as well as equipping on-board vehicles, jets and air power. Within a decade, jet fuel could be produced at a cost of $3 to $6 dollars/gallon. Top

Laser Weapon Technology
This year, the Navy has installed and has been testing the Laser Weapon System (LaWS). The laser is capable of obliterating small boats and drones that may pose threats to Navy ships; firing warning shots and blinding spy cameras by destroying their sensors. Though LaWS hits its targets at the speed of light, the laser will not be as useful for faster moving targets such as incoming missiles and jet fighters. The weapon is cost-effective because each shot of directed energy has a source that never runs out, is fired by one sailor using a video game-like console, and costs less than $1, compared to the hundreds of thousands of dollars it costs to fire a missile. Lasers have the potential to revolutionize the economics and technology of warfare by changing the way we fight and save lives. Top

Electromagnetic Railgun
A ship-mounted 20- to 32-megajoule weapon that shoots a distance of 50 to 100 nautical miles. For comparison, one megajoule of energy is equivalent to a 1-ton car thrust at 100 MPH. The electromagnetic railgun uses an electric field to accelerate a metal conductor between two rails. Missiles are shot using electricity instead of chemicals, which would be safer due to the elimination of explosive gunpowder. Testing revealed that the railgun blasts projectiles at air speeds of up to 5,600 MPH to a range of 125 miles at 7.5 times the speed of sound. There is no explosive warhead – the damage is done through sheer speed alone. This design keeps costs low; costing about 1/100th the price of current missiles. Top